The HOT List for November 6, 2007

It's the best of both worlds ... or so Miley and Lilly think when they hatch the plot to get Miley's dad and Lilly's mom (guest star Heather Locklear) to meet, date, and eventually marry each other, all in the name of making the best friends who are like sisters actually become sisters. The 'rents do meet up at a PTA meeting, and, much to the girls' delight, sparks fly between them. But is that enough to warrant sending out wedding invitations? We're not spoiling this one for you ... it's too fun, so watch for yourself!

#2: Get ready for one of the year's best new albums — namely,Exclusive by Chris Brown (Jive)

We're still playing Chris Brown's first, self-titled CD on a regular basis, so you know how much we're looking forward to the young R&B superstar's newest batch of tunes. The first single, "Wall to Wall," is already a hit, and with other tunes including collaborations with Kanye West, will.i.am, The Game, Big Boi, Swizz Beat, Stargate, and Scott Storch, we know "Wall to Wall" is just the first of many hot tracks that will ensure Brown's sophomore effort is as successful as his debut.

#3: Cook up a family film night and watchRatatouille (Disney Home Entertainment)

A rat in the kitchen?! That's definitely not something you want to think about when you go out to eat, particularly if you're talking about the finest restaurants in Paris, no? But Remy the rat dreams of becoming a world-famous chef, and he's got the cooking skills to make it happen. It's, again, just that little problem of a rat being enemy number one in a kitchen that's in his way. Remy's solution: He sneaks into the kitchen of the most famous chef in Paris, his personal hero, and teams up with garbage boy Linguini to become the toast of Paris's culinary world. But does he have a rat's chance of getting people to accept him in this world? This latest Disney/Pixar gem comes to DVD with a wealth of bonus features, including a new digital short, deleted scenes, an interview with animation genius Brad Bird, and a fun little feature about the history of rats — not all of 'em, of course, are as lovable as Remy, or this instant-classic movie.

"It's a Nice Day for a Posh Wedding" is the title of this week's new Ugly Betty episode, and the title says it all. Wilhelmina is finally getting Bradford Meade down the aisle, but she's worried that she's going to be upstaged by her bridesmaid: Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham, who's guest-starring! Of course, Posh isn't Wilhelmina's only worry ... there's also the possibility that all her nasty deeds will catch up with her, and BEFORE she can marry Bradford and become one of the wealthiest, most powerful women in publishing. Elsewhere, Betty's dad is excited to finally become an American citizen, until he finds out about Betty's plans regarding Henry....

How many times have you heard that math is a "guy thing"? Ree-dic-u-lous! And actress Danica McKellar — who is a former child star from the hit sitcom The Wonder Years — tells us why in this fabulous new go-girl book! McKellar, in addition to being one of the most adorable, endearing TV kids ever, also happens to be quite the math whiz, though it certainly didn't start out that way. She recalls a very painful memory of blanking on a math quiz when she was younger, partly because she had no confidence in her ability to do math. And throughout the book, she not only makes learning the basic principles of math easy to understand, but she gives real-life examples of how math is applicable in our lives, of real-world women who've become successful because of their math abilities, how math is actually cool(!), and how girls are every bit as capable of excelling in math as boys are. So there! There are also quizzes, horoscopes, and info on the fabulous McKellar, who, while still a working actress, also graduated summa cum laude from UCLA as a math major, and even coauthored a paper in which she, a fellow student, and a professor proved a math theorem. WOW!

You know our motto by now: If it's free, it just tastes better. Ha, we kid, but we do love finding a great free sample on the Web (and the fun of waiting for them to arrive in our mailbox!). This is a particularly good one, because it combines our love of free samples with our love of school supplies. You know what we mean, right? 3M, the maker of Scotch Tape and Post-it notes, is offering a sample of their latest product, Post-it Flags, the very versatile little tabs that act as mini highlighters for every important thing you need to note. Along with a sample of the flags, the 3M folks are also tossing in a sample of Post-its, which definitely makes this a package we're looking forward to receiving.

Sure, you can buy 'em already made, but is there anything better than homemade Rice Krispies Treats? We'll answer that one: No, there isn't! They're also as fun and easy to make as they are to eat, which makes them the perfect treat to whip up for friends and family snacks, after-dinner desserts, holiday goodies ... even as gifts! The official Rice Krispies Website offers tons of recipes for the tasty goodies, including Banana Nut Rice Krispies Treats, Butterscotch Rice Krispies Treats, Rice Krispies Treats footballs, Rice Krispies Treats wreaths, Rice Krispies Treats candy canes, Rice Krispies Treats Christmas trees, Rice Krispies Treats sundaes ... and most of them take less than an hour to make, don't require an oven, and taste amazing! So, is your mouth watering yet?

Most of us try to do kind things all year long, but during the holiday season, it inspires you to want to do even more, right? Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child is one of our most favorite holiday charities, and anytime you get the chance to do something really amazing for someone less fortunate, it's really also a gift to yourself. This program involves taking a regular shoe box, filling it with small gifts for a boy or girl between the ages of 2 and 14, wrapping it, and dropping it off at a local center, where it will then be shipped to one of thousands of locations around the world and into the very grateful hands of a child whose life will be truly touched by your generosity. The Website lists local centers where the boxes can be dropped off, gives specific instructions on how to pack the boxes, and even includes a list of items the children might enjoy, like small games, toys, school supplies, combs, toothbrushes, coloring books, jump ropes, and other small treasures, as well as a handwritten note from you. This would make a terrific project for you and friends or family to do together, or for a group project with members of a sports team, youth group, or school club, with goodies that can be readily purchased at local sales and 99-cent stores. Isn't it great to think of how such a small gesture could change a child's life this holiday season?

#9: Get the buzz on a hot new Wii game, namely, theBee Movie Game (Activision)

You've seen the movie, now be the Bee! Barry B. Benson, that is, the star of Bee Movie and the hero of this fun Wii adventure. In the hit movie, Barry leaves the comfort and safety of the hive to venture out into the world, interact with humans, explore New York City, and try to save his fellow bees' production of honey from the humans who love to consume it. In the cool Wii game, YOU act as Barry, as you try to dodge danger at every turn (it's a hard life out there for a bee!), fly through the busy skies of New York City, drive race cars, taxis, and scooters, and play cool racing and arcade-style games to win points! The game's Website even offers a free demo, but bee (ha!) warned: It's addictive.

Carrie Underwood, Jamie Foxx dueting with Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, and LeAnn Rimes with Reba McEntire are but a few of the stars who'll be kicking up their heels and belting out some fine tunes as the Country Music Association hands out statues at its 41st annual awards fest. Kid Rock and American Idol alum Bucky Covington are also among the stars who'll be whipping the crowd into a frenzy for this star-studded telecast, but for us, it's all about hearing one of our all-time fave AI stars, season four winner Ms. Underwood, sing a song from her new hit CD, Carnival Ride. And whose performance are you looking forward to?